Bayer Aspirin Is Feeling Plenty Healthy

When Bayer executives talk about the products that will shape the future of their pharmaceutical unit, the drug names they cite sound like comic book villains: Xarelto, VEGF-Trap Eye, and Nexavar. Yet so far this year, Bayer's top performer is a surprising wonder drug from a bygone era: aspirin.

The medicine patented under the last Kaiser has become the lagging pharmaceutical unit's bright spot, thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign that capitalized on production-related recalls by competitor Tylenol, made by Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ). Aspirin was Bayer's fastest-growing major drug in the first quarter as over-the-counter sales spiked 24 percent, five times last year's gain. "Consumers are running scared," says Donald Riker, a consultant on over-the-counter drugs and editor of . "There's been a shift in the trust in the products and the brands."

Aspirin, first developed by Bayer chemist Felix Hoffmann in 1897, has staged a comeback in the past five years after Leverkusen (Germany)-based Bayer funded studies showing the vintage painkiller's anti-blood-clotting ability could also play a role in preventing heart disease, says Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor. Annual sales climbed to $1.1 billion in 2007, entering true blockbuster drug territory.

Then Bayer caught a break. Rival J&J, beset with manufacturing problems, pulled more than 200 million packages of Tylenol, Motrin, and other over-the-counter drugs from the market in a wave of recalls that began more than a year ago and cost it more than $900 million in sales. The production problems, which resulted in some caplets having a musty smell, led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to advise consumers to switch from Tylenol to private labels of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. That news followed FDA warnings of liver damage risks for users of the ingredient. "It's a disaster for the [Tylenol] brand, but good for others, including good old-fashioned aspirin," as some customers seek an alternative painkiller, Gordon says.

J&J declined comment for this article. The company expects the full range of recalled products to be back on store shelves by next year, with some undisclosed changes to win back customers, Chief Financial Officer Dominic Caruso told analysts on May 3.

Sales of Tylenol tablets have dropped 14 percent in the U.S. to $75.6 million in the 12 weeks ending Apr. 17, according to market researcher SymphonyIRI Group. Meanwhile, sales of Bayer aspirin sold for pain relief (rather than low-dose varieties targeted at heart health) rose 21 percent to $40.2 million in the same period, according to IRI data, which doesn't include sales at Wal-Mart Stores ( WMT ).

US Allergy Drugs Market to Exceed $14.7 Billion by 2015, According ...

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2010

Allergy is a widespread and growing health problem in almost all countries worldwide, and shows no signs that the number of sufferers would decrease or even stabilize in the coming years. It ranks among the most major chronic diseases in the US, affecting daily life of millions of Americans. Factors causing allergies could be environmental or genetic, though cosmetics, jewelry and other substances also can cause allergic reactions. The most common environmental allergens include dust, pollen, mold, pet dander and insect bites, and well as certain foods and drugs.

Claritin/Clarinex of Schering-Plough and Zyrtec of McNeil Consumer Healthcare are the leading, most prescribed allergy drugs in the US, as stated by the new market research report on allergy drugs. Antihistamines represent the most widely prescribed anti-allergy products, followed by corticosteroids. The market for antihistamine drugs is particularly strong owing to the increased levels of effectiveness provided by these medicines when used in combination with a decongestant, as well as the non-sedating quality of antihistamines.

While sales of allergy drugs are growing, the market is also simultaneously witnessing demand increase for alternative medication, as more and more people are showing preference for alternative therapies for the treatment of their allergies. Though, complementary therapies are usually less effective in comparison to conventional medication, certain compounds show beneficial effects in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Key players profiled in the report include Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Consumer Healthcare Inc., Schering-Plough Corporation, Sepracor, Inc., Vicks, among others.

The report titled Allergy Drugs: A US Market Report announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a review of market, market drivers, prevalence data, product introductions/ approvals, and recent industry activity. The study analyzes market data and analytics in terms of value sales for product segments, including – Prescription Antihistamines, Prescription Corticosteroids, and OTC Allergy Drugs.

For more details about this market research report, please visit – http://www.strategyr.com/Allergy_Drugs_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs over 800 people worldwide and publishes more than 1100 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers thousands of smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

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